What to charge?

Probably been asked a thousand times but I'm at a loss. Coming from the video business thats a whole different ball game. So is it per image, per hour, both, what? I did some local product shots and now I'm getting asked to do more from different businesses and possibly a wedding. Eeek!!
I don't want to charge to low but at the same time I'm still learning so I don't want to go to high either BUT I need more gear!!

Probably been asked a thousand times but I'm at a loss. Coming from the video business thats a whole different ball game. So is it per image, per hour, both, what? I did some local product shots and now I'm getting asked to do more from different businesses and possibly a wedding. Eeek!!

I don't want to charge to low but at the same time I'm still learning so I don't want to go to high either BUT I need more gear!!

I'm coming from a landscape genre background but I've done portraiture and weddings so I can throw in my two cents for what it's worth.

Since it appears from your post that you are looking at doing this for profit (business), you need to approach the question as a business. How much will it cost you to provide the product and what compensation do you need in return for your time and energy. Each product (product shots, weddings, etc.) will be different.

For product shots, you will most likely want to charge a "setup" fee that includes your time to set up for the shoot as well as any travel or other standard expenses you may incur. If it's at your facility, that fee may be different. You might then charge a "package deal" price that includes a number of hours along with a number of final images. This would include your time shooting as well as post processing, etc. Depending on whether the product images need to be electronic or prints would determine how you approach distributing the final product. So many possibilities...so many options for you to decide. :-)

As for weddings. All I can say is that if you've never shot one, consider not doing it. Practice first. Hook up with a local photographer and act as an assistant to learn the ropes. You don't know how many horror stories I've heard of wedding train wrecks. You only get ONE chance and it needs to be spot on. That being said, if the wedding party are family or friends, you can get away with doing it if you are honest up front with your abilities and they are aware you may not get it right. If they know the possibilities going in, it helps easy the inevitable pain. Photographing weddings is a little different than video requiring a bit different skill set. Timing is even more critical.

No matter how you decide to set up your pay structure, consider putting together a business plan first. Doing this will force you to think about many things up front...the local market, what others are doing, what product am I really offering and what market will it cover, how much are others charging, how much do I REALLY need to charge to actually make a profit (much more than you think when you start including all your incidentals in just running a business). From there you can decide what packages to offer and what to charge as it will fit with both you and the local market.

Hope that helps!

Jeff

"Anybody can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple."Charlie Mingus

I generally quote on a "project" basis. A per image cost is typically not cost-effective for the client, and I really don't like to quote an hourly rate as I think that diminishes to the perception of the work I do. I figure out what I need to make (pretty much what Navcom said above), and then what I'd LIKE to make, and what I think the client / market will bear. I have no hesitation asking the client up front what their budget is for the project, with the caveat that I'm not interested in maxing their budget, but just want to be sure I'm in their ballpark before we spend much time putting together a quote.
J